The second hit single from the brilliant "Disraeli Gears" album has remained a rock classic and was often performed live by Eric Clapton in his solo gigs.
One of only two top ten songs for Cream, it peaked at #5 in the US.
None of Cream's singles reached the Top 10 in the UK, they did better with albums. "Sunshine Of Your Love" peaked at #25 in the UK, which wasn't bad for a second single from an already big-selling album. The previous single from that album ("Strange Brew") peaked at #17 in the UK, and that was released before the album.
Ginger Baker gave an epic drum performance on this and White Room ...
Ginger Baker is an awesome drummer. His drum solo "Toad" predated Led Zeppelin's "Moby Dick" by three years.
Ginger Baker was one of the best rock drummers ever. His personality did leave something to be desired. When Paul McCartney arrived in Lagos, Nigeria to record his Band on the Run album, the EMI studio he was supposed to use was in a shambles, so he called up Ginger, who lived in Lagos and had a home studio that was ready to go. So, much of Band on the run was recorded at Ginger Baker's home. Paul asked Ginger to do some percussion work for the album, so Baker took a metal can and halfway filled it with pebbles and shook it for a percussion fill on several songs.
Apparently all the members of Cream were more than a little egotistical and that was the cause of various personality clashes that broke the band up after less than three years. Nevertheless, they were still awesome musicians.
I didn't know about Ginger Baker's involvement with the recording of "Band On The Run", but nothing surprises me in the weird and wonderful world of musicians. Lol:)
